The National Merit program recently named three Pines high schoolers as scholarship semifinalists.

Nicole M. Power, a student at Pembroke Pines Charter High, 17189 Sheridan St.; Aayush Upadhyay from Somerset Academy Charter High, 20805 Johnson St.; and Melissa Rosenow from West Broward High, 500 NW 209th Ave., all received the semi-finalist nod.

The trio join about 16,000 other semifinalists in the 55th annual National Merit Scholarship program and art shortlisted to compete for 8,200 scholarships worth roughly $36 million next spring.

To be eligible, the three high schoolers must have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed by their high school principal, earn qualifying SAT scores and submit a detail scholarship application and self-descriptive essay.

For more information about hthe scholarship, call Eileen Artemakis at 847-866-5100, or visit www.browardschools.com.